CBFS doubles prize-money

The Cricketers' Benefit Fund Series has more than doubled the prize-money for the next three-nation tournament to be organised at Sharjah from October 22 to November 4, a newspaper reported on Friday.

The tournament will have a prize-money of 2,50,000 U.S. dollars, up from 1,00,000 dollars, Gulf news said.

Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe will battle it out in the next championship.

Both Pakistan and Sri Lanka have signed a contract with the CBFS to play in the six tournaments to be organised at Sharjah during the next three years.

"Zimbabwe have confirmed their participation" in the coming series, CBFS Chief Executive Zahid Noorani said.

He said "a team is guaranteed a minimum of 50,000 dollars". The winner will take away 1,20,000 dollars while the runner-up gets 80,000 dollars. The team placed third will be paid 50,000 dollars.

He said the CBFS was also inviting bids for the title sponsorship and television rights for the tournament. After the last tournament in April, the Worldtel contract with the CBFS for television rights has already ended.

The CBFS authorities are making every effort to ensure that the tournament remains popular both with the sponsors and the public at large in the wake of India's decision not to play at neutral venues like Sharjah, Singapore and Toronto for the next three years.

India did not take part in the Sharjah tournament held in April this year and were replaced at the last minute by New Zealand. Pakistan and Sri Lanka were the other two teams in that event.

UNI